Hot Coffee VS Iced Coffee

We all know Americans love their coffee. According to the latest data, almost 73% of us drink coffee every day. Interestingly, these daily consumers are primarily made up of the Silent Generation, Baby Boomers, Gen X, and to no one's surprise, caffeine-addicted millennials. I was intrigued to learn that Gen Z doesn't drink coffee on a regular basis. I thought they would rank among the regular drinkers thanks to all of the wonderful specialty coffees out there but it looks like millennials might be leading that race for the younger folks. In fact, if I had a dollar for every time I heard or read the rhetoric "...if millennials just stopped buying fancy coffees, they could afford to buy a house..." then I could actually afford to buy a house. But I digress.

Why do we love coffee?

Beyond its revitalizing taste and energizing caffeine boost, sipping on a cup of joe may have some surprising mental benefits. Research has shown that the antioxidants and other compounds found in coffee can help improve cognitive function, memory, and mood. Additionally, the ritual of sipping a cup of coffee can provide a sense of calm and mindfulness, helping to reduce stress levels. By incorporating coffee into your daily routine, you may find that you're not only more alert and focused, but also more relaxed and centered throughout the day. So go ahead, brew yourself a pot, pour yourself a glass, or purchase your favorite latte to reap the mental benefits that come with it!

What type of coffee is best?

Speaking of different coffee options... let's dive in to which type of coffee is best. Admittedly, hot coffee is a classic. Easily dress it up with sugar, cream, milk, or your choice of flavored creamer... who can resist? But as the weather warms up, many of us turn to cold coffee as a refreshing way to start the day. Of course, this covers an array of coffee styles including just iced (with the same additions as your hot coffee), frozen (which may or may not essentially be a coffee milkshake), and the ever-popular & trendy cold brew.

If we want to dive even deeper, a lot of coffee enthusiasts will also argue about the method their coffee is brewed. Is Keurig your go-to for the convenience? Are you a French Press stan? Did you splurge for an espresso machine in your kitchen? Do you swear by grinding your own small-batch organic sustainable coffee beans imported and cultivated from independent farmers or can you easily get by with an auto drip brew of pre-ground store brand beans from your local grocer?

While we could discuss and expand on this for hours, I'm going to shift focus back to the most basic, but important question. What type of coffee is best -- hot or iced?

Millennial preference

Personally speaking, I'm not picky. You put a cup of coffee in front of me and I'm going to drink it. But, if I could have my dream coffee every morning, it would definitely contain fresh-ground espresso with some sort of steamed milk component and a little bit of flavoring (which is why a nice espresso machine is the first item on my future home wish list). Honestly, my daily coffee varies depending on whether I am home or running errands and changes based on what I feel like at the time I am ordering or making it.

If you follow a lot of other millennial content online, you've probably seen many creators poke fun at this love of iced coffee. Here are some of my favorites:

• @millennialkyle: "Getting an iced coffee after any minor inconvenience"

• @justme.rod: "Using iced coffee just to feel something"

• @hannahmhines: "Emotional support iced coffee"

If I had to say which I drink more often... it would be iced. My coffee-loving parents who can easily go through two pots a day, on the other hand, would probably pick hot coffee 95% of the time. So I have to wonder... is it a generational preference?

So, let's ask the people and find out! I've created a 4-part poll to get to the bottom of how each generation prefers their coffee. Go ahead and pick your preferences and then share it with a friend or two - we need all the data we can collect! (Results available upon completion of poll).

Coffee Poll - Which Coffee is Best!? (Google Form)

I honestly cannot wait to see the results but at the end of the day, I strongly believe you should drink whatever makes you happy... even if others accuse you of making iced coffee your entire personality. And if you don't believe me, just ask this guy.